48-Dr Kartar Lalvani .qxp_A4 Temp 12/09/2016 12:34 Page 48
The people’s choice awards
On the Vitamin for Success
D
r Kartar Lalvani OBE, FRPharmS, DSc, founded and chairs Vitabiotics, Britain’s number one vitamin company. Personally and through Vitabiotics, Dr Lalvani’s charity and organisational support includes the Wellbeing of Women, National Childbirth Trust, The National Osteoporosis Society, SHINE (Spina Bifida Association), BHF (The British Heart Foundation), National Literacy Trust, The Victoria Cross and George Cross Research and Archive Project, Battersea Dogs Home, BLISS, British Menopause Society, College of Medicine, Diana Award, London Zoo, Garden Bridge and The National Army Museum. Vitabiotics is a market leader with its pioneering vitamin products, many backed by world class clinical trials. Kartar’s philanthropy and entrepreneurship have won him many laurels. After his pharmacy graduation in London, he obtained a doctorate DSc with distinction from the University of Bonn and a fellowship of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society FRPharmS. Also, he was bestowed with an honorary doctorate from Middlesex University, an OBE, and honorary professorship at University of Franche Comté, France. Vitabiotics’ accolades include The Queen’s Award for Innovation in Vitamin Research, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Innovation Awards from DTI, GSK, etc. Energetic and agile Dr Lalvani is still actively involved in his innovations despite creating a multi-million dollar vitamin company, endorsed by fitness fanatic-cum model David Gandy, Sky Sports presenter Kirsty Gallagher, former world champion swimmer Mark Foster and England international cricketer James Anderson. With his interest in history and literature, he had recently authored an authoritative book – “The Making of India: The Untold Story of British Enterprise” (Bloomsbury, 2016). It was the Daily Mail Book of the Week, and Amazon listed it as the best-selling book of Asian history. Dr Lalvani was asked to author a full page on it for The Sunday Times. So what does this living business legend say as he looks back on his lifetime achievement? Initially he wanted to become a doctor, (and he was qualified enough to become one), but later changed his mind when he realised that if he created some novel products it would do the world a power of good. It could help hundreds of thousands of people and he would be more effective that way than treating one person at a time as a medic. So he focussed on medicinal chemistry at Bonn
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ASIAN ACHIEVERS AWARDS 2016 Asian Voice & Gujarat Samachar
Dr Kartar Lalvani OBE Founder & Chairman, Vitabiotics
University. Dr. Lalvani has some valuable lessons to offer.
Lesson One: Reach as wide a market as possible.
Lesson Two: Dare to be different. An early example was when he received the patent for his first product for mouth ulcers in 1967. Among his various inventions, was the first menopause product for women that was not hormonal. Hormonal products excluded 50% of women buyers, those who had a family history of cancer. Creating a calcium product with magnesium was another first, since science proved that calcium without magnesium could not be utilised fully by the body. An excess of calcium could even lead to kidney stones. Osteocare quickly became a market leader rendering the Boots buyers ecstatic. Pregnacare was also an instant success and accounts for 81% of all pregnancy products sold in the UK. Previously, doctors used to prescribe iron and folic acid for pregnancy, but with the advent of Pregnacare the scene changed compeletely. Lesson Three: Try to Innovate. Finally, the mantra for being a successful businessman, the veteran tycoon says: “Be ambitious, but not overly so. Control your business and personal expenses, so you don’t overspend. Remain determined to succeed. However long it takes, do not get frustrated. Stay optimistic.” On Brexit, Dr Lalvani, quite characteristically, is sanguine about the UK’s economic transition. “Brexit and the currency devaluation are going to affect us. The raw materials we import will cost us more and our export prices in sterling will bring less dollars. They are going to cost us 20% more but we will adjust; we will work hard; we are used to it.”